Choices: Alpha City, Book 3 (13 page)

“Alpha City. I would love to go to a place where different shifters all get along and stay in one place. Whatever you’re doing there, you must be doing it right. Never has there been a place as magical as Alpha City,” Cat said.

“We love it there, but we’re having problems with a certain witch. I can explain that in a few, but do you both mind if we ask you questions about your mating?” Judd asked.

Cat reached out and took Bo’s hand. “Go ahead.”

“When you mate, is it possible for your shifter side to become more dominant and mess it up somehow?” Judd asked. Maggie could tell he was nervous. She knew he didn’t want to lose that part of him, and she didn’t blame him. He was just as much jaguar as a man.

Bo laughed. “To be honest, I’ve never had a problem with my bear or vampire side. I’m an Alpha, just like you, and when the bear wants to come out, I let him out. The vampire in me co-exists with the bear and they work together inside of me. I’m stronger and a hell of a lot more resilient than I was before. I would heal pretty fast, but now it doesn’t even hurt. Now don’t get me wrong, I do feel pain, but it has to be something very powerful to hurt me. Like I said, I can still shift, but now I have these, too.” Bo flicked his fangs out. Judd tensed up, making everyone aware.

“You don’t want to be a vampire?” Cat asked.

“No, he doesn’t. He has his reasons, and I understand them, but I have a few more questions,” Maggie answered for him. She knew he’d try to smooth it over, but he couldn’t help it, and she understood it now. They could have mated before even without knowing this, yet he kept digging. She wanted him to have his answers, but she finally understood that he’d eventually hate her if he changed. And Maggie understood that. She’d never do it to him. She’d never make him into something that he hated. She knew he loved her, but it wasn’t enough. She wasn’t enough.

“Can I use your bathroom?” Maggie asked. She bolted from the seat when Cat got up to walk her down the hall. She knew Judd could tell something was wrong, but she needed a moment to figure out what she was going to do.

“Are you okay, Maggie?” Cat asked.

She smiled, then looked down at the ground. “I just thought once he found out that he wouldn’t lose his shifter side he would relax, but I know now that he’ll only hate me if we truly mated. A vampire killed his mother in front of him as a child; he has hated our kind ever since. I just thought—”

“You thought he could accept the vampire part of you?” Cat answered.

Maggie shook her head.

“Maybe in time he’ll come around,” the woman tried to reassure her.

“I wish that was possible, Cat, but do you know how much trouble it will bring to Alpha City if we mate? I love him enough to let him go, and go far enough that the mating bond won’t hurt so much. I have a friend who can help him with it, but I have to leave him before I don’t have the strength.” Maggie walked over to the window and saw children playing. “Are some of them your children?”

Cat came and stood beside her. “Yes, the girl with the overalls on and the boy standing to the side looking up at us.”

“They are beautiful children. You’re a lucky woman.”

“Keep the faith Maggie. If you’re truly mated it will work out.”

“Thank you for seeing us, but it’s time for us to go. I don’t want to bring any trouble to your home, but if you ever need something, here’s my number.” Maggie pulled the piece of paper from her pocket that Mick had written the address on, and wrote down her cell number.

“Thank you, Maggie. If you ever need to talk, just come on down. I have plenty of room for you.” Cat hugged Maggie and walked her back down the hall into the kitchen. Judd jumped up when he saw her expression and went to her side.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” Judd held her closely, and she knew it would be the last time.

“I’m fine. It’s time to go. It’ll be late when we get back.” She pulled away from him and went over to Bo and stuck her hand out. “Thank you for allowing us in your home, Alpha. You gave me all of the answers that I needed to know. We won’t ever come back. I know you want to stay off the radar.” She could feel Judd staring at her as she smiled and started for the door.

Cat was already there with it open. “Thank you again, Cat. I won’t ever forget your kindness.”

“You’re welcome here anytime, Maggie.” When they hugged, Cat whispered in her ear, “Keep the faith.”

Maggie pulled away and nodded, then walked out the door without waiting for Judd. She was already halfway down the driveway when Judd ran up to her and jerked her arm to stop her. “What the hell is wrong?

“Let’s get out of here before you go and jerk my other arm off,” Maggie snapped.

“Baby, what happened in that brief minute you went to the bathroom?” Judd asked. This time she could tell he was trying to calm down, but what was coming next would have the Alpha in her face.

Once they made it back to the SUV, Judd turned in his seat and asked again, “What’s wrong? Isn’t this what you wanted? We can mate now.”

All she could hear was ‘Isn’t this what you wanted?’ and she knew that now was the time to tell him the biggest lie she had ever told. “No, this is not what I wanted. You were right all along. I don’t want to be a shifter. I don’t want an animal inside of me. I can’t do this anymore. I tried to make myself believe I could, but I can’t. I will stay long enough to pick out the people in the prides and packs that are against you, but then I want to go back home. I already contacted Mick and he offered me my old job back and I want to take it.” She watched as Judd’s eyes shifted from their beautiful green color, his pupils taking on a slitted shape. His jaguar wanted out, and he was fighting for control.

“I’ll take you to Brody’s vehicle and you can ride with them. Tell them where you want your clothes sent, and don’t worry about helping us. Just leave.”

Judd put the vehicle in reverse and sped down the dirt driveway.

Brody and the others were waiting at the end. Judd didn’t give the others an explanation or Maggie another look. He just pulled up, reached over, and pushed the door open. She had to do this, or he would be able to tell. He was hurt and angry, and she knew he hated her right now. He had been through too much, and she needed to give him some peace. She needed to leave tonight, before anyone could talk her out of it. Quietly, she got out of the vehicle and closed the door. Before Brody could ask what happened, Judd sped off, leaving everyone staring at the back of his vehicle.

“What the fuck is he doing?” Brody asked.

“I’m riding back with you. Can you drop me off at Judith’s house, please?” Maggie couldn’t take her eyes off the road as Judd’s vehicle disappeared.

“Where is he going?”

“Home.”

“Why are you not going with him, Maggie? What the hell is going on?” Brody demanded.

“We both decided that it was best if we didn’t mate. I will still be just a vampire and Judd will still be just a shifter.”

Brody narrowed his eyes at her. “What did you do to him?”

“I told him the truth,” Maggie spit out.

“The truth? That’s a bunch of crap and you know it, Maggie Lamont. I don’t know what you’re trying to pull, but you’re not going to hurt my friend again. He’s been through too much. Now you take back what you said or I’m…”

Before Brody could finish his sentence, Maggie took off running. Nobody would be able to catch her. Maybe that was for the best.

J
udd drove so fast
that he made it back to Alpha City in record time. His mind was on Maggie and what went wrong.

He didn’t see the black truck following him until they rammed the back of his car.

Gunshots rattled the back window, but it was bulletproof. He was so angry that he just didn’t care about anything anymore. He slammed on his brakes, making the truck hit him in the back end. The force slammed his body into the steering wheel, but Judd regained control. He looked in his rearview mirror just in time to see the truck skid into a ditch. He had enough common sense to hit the emergency button before he jumped out of his truck and ran toward the vehicle. Judd was going to kill whoever was in it. His life was out of control, and what kind of life would it be without her? Before he could get to the vehicle, two men jumped out and opened fire.

Judd felt the bullets as they hit him in the chest. He roared but continued to advance on the men, until the pain caught up and his body wouldn’t work anymore.

“Kill him!” one of the men yelled out. Judd had one chance; he allowed his beast to come forward. He watched as his claws caught the closest man. Judd ripped into him, looking around for the other man, when he felt more bullets hitting him in the side. Rage chased through him as he leapt on top of the vehicle and jumped down on the man. Judd’s massive jaws crunched down onto the human’s head, crushing it.

As he spat the man out, Judd’s thoughts went back to Maggie. She didn’t want to mate with him. When the time came, she couldn’t do it. He moved back toward his vehicle, but collapsed onto the roadway.

His last thoughts were of Maggie; then he blacked out.

M
aggie waited
until she knew Brody and the others were gone, then ran back to Bo and Cat’s house. When she got to the front porch, she saw that Cat was sitting outside. “I was wondering when you were going to come out of the woods.”

“Cat, can I borrow a car or can someone take me to a rental car place? Please?”

“Of course, honey. Come inside and let me talk to Bo about it.” Maggie could feel it, something was wrong with Judd. She had to get back.

“Something is wrong with Judd. I can feel it.” Maggie put her hand over her heart.

“Bo, Bo! We need to get Maggie back to Alpha City, now. Something is wrong.”

“I think it’s time.” That was all Bo said. Cat smiled and nodded her head.

“Yes dear, I think so too.” Maggie looked over at Cat, wondering what the hell they were talking about. Finally, Cat smiled as she turned toward her.

“What?”

“It’s time for a new breed to come out to the world. We have been waiting a long time for a couple like you. Two that the vampires couldn’t just dispose of and make disappear. With you two mated and a prominent couple from Alpha City, they won’t be able to touch you. And with my clan, you’ll have more to back you up. Of course we will threaten the vampires, hold it over their heads that we will tell all the paranormals how they killed their kind if they mated with a shifter, and show the video footage we got.”

“What if Judd doesn’t want to mate with me? What if…”

Cat walked over and put her arms around her. “Oh honey, he loves you. He wants to mate with you, but when you told him that you didn’t want to become a shifter, like most men, he flipped out.”

Maggie’s heart hurt again. “We need to go now. I know something bad has happened.”

“Okay, sweetie. Load the crew up baby, and let’s go to the city!” Cat cheered, throwing her hand up.

B
rody walked back
and forth as Judith tried to heal Judd. He could see in the jaguar’s eyes that he had given up. He didn’t want to live without Maggie. “Stop, Judith, just stop. Let me go,” Judd whispered, his voice hoarse and dry.

“Damn it, Judd Walsh, she is going to heal you and you’re going to let her or I’m going to kill you.” Brody pointed his finger at Judd.

“No, it’s time, Brody. I just want it to stop.” Brody watched as Judith tried to get all the silver bullets out of him, but there were so many. Even Rose was giving everything she had to him. It wasn’t enough. By the time they’d gotten to him, he had already lost a lot of blood. His face was pale, and Brody could tell by the beating of his heart that he was going to die. Judd didn’t want to live, which made their job harder.

“Don’t you fucking give up, Judd. Don’t you give up.” Ryder and his other friends were kneeling down beside him, touching him to lend him their strength, but Judd only wanted to die. He hated Maggie for breaking his heart.

Everyone looked up as the house rattled. A plane flew low overhead.

“Shit, that was low.” Brody and the others ran out of the house and into the yard. Judd’s father had a small airstrip built down below his house. Nobody used it anymore, until tonight. “They’re going to land.”

Brody and the others took off running toward the strip. It wasn’t just any small plane; this was a jet, and a nice one at that. They watched as the doors opened. A big man in overalls came down first, then a lady, followed by Maggie.

“It’s Maggie,” Ryder announced.

“She isn’t getting near him. She’s hurt him enough,” Brody roared.

“Brody, she’s his mate and right now he needs her,” Kayden said.

“I don’t care. She left him.”

They watched as Maggie and the others ran up the hill. “Where is he?” Maggie yelled out.

“In the house. He’s in bad shape, Maggie. He’s been shot,” Ryder explained.

Maggie started to run when Brody jumped in front of her. “You’re not going in there.”

“Brody, I don’t have time to explain why I did what I did, but right now, he doesn’t have long and he needs me. After I heal him, if he still doesn’t want me then I’ll leave, but right now you need to get out of my way,”

B
rody stood there
, then moved as Maggie’s vampire speed got her to the house in a few seconds. She jerked her coat off and threw it on the couch, then ran down the hallway to his bedroom. She could hear his heart beating harder, trying to stay alive. She rushed into the room as Judith cried.

“I’ve done all I can, but he doesn’t want to live,” Judith whispered.

“Move.” Maggie grabbed the knife out of her boot and cut her wrist, then raised them over his injuries. She took in a deep breath as she watched the blood pour down over his wounds. Steadying herself, Maggie bent down and laid her hands over his chest, praying she wasn’t too late.

Judd gasped, opening his eyes. Frantically, he searched the room. “What are you doing here?”

“Now you listen to me, Judd Walsh. I lied back there because I thought that, even knowing the truth, you hated the thought of becoming someone like me, but I don’t care if you do. You made a promise to me, and I made one to you, to at least try. I love you and always have. If you still want me then you need to find the strength and fight for us. So shut up so I can concentrate. I think you’re going to need more of my blood.”

Judd grabbed her hand. “Bite me.”

Shaking her head, Maggie tried to cut her wrist again, but Judd jerked her hand toward him. “I said bite me now.”

“No Judd, you need to think about this more. Let me heal you.”

“I’ve thought about it. I made up my mind a long time ago that you were mine and no matter what Bo and Cat had to say, I was going to mate with you. So bite me, woman, so I can spend the rest of my life with you.”

Fear crossed her face as the tears fell down her cheeks. “You still want to mate with me?”

“Yes.” Judd’s voice was garbled as he wheezed in and out to breathe. His blood had turned a dark red. She could see the pain as he gasped again for one more breath. “I… ”

Maggie watched as Judd’s eyes closed and his head fell to the side.

“No!” she screamed out. She had waited too long. Jumping up, she leaned in and tried to listen for any pulse. Nothing. She pushed his head to the side and bit into his neck. When she didn’t feel any movement from him, she bit down again, praying that the venom would save him.

“What happened? What did you do?” Brody pulled Maggie away and leaned down to his mouth. “He’s not breathing.”

“What?” Ryder and the other Alphas ran over to where Judd was laying on the bed.

“He’s not breathing. She killed him,” Brody said, leaning up. She could see the bear under his skin as his clothes started ripping apart. The grizzly was pushing through his body, and she was his target. Maybe this was it. She had killed her mate by waiting, and now she deserved to die.

Pushing herself up, Maggie opened her arms and closed her eyes. She wasn’t going to fight. If her mate was dead, then she wanted to die too. Pain rippled through her body at the thought of her mate dying.

Panting for breath, she waited for the pain from the bear to hit her, but nothing came except a loud crash. Opening her eyes, Maggie watched as Judd rammed into the grizzly bear, knocking him into wall.

His eyes were a bright green color as they focused on her. His body had grown bigger as the vampire venom raced through his body. Even his hair was growing longer as they both stared at each other. He wasn’t just a shifter, but a vampire as well—a hybrid.

Maggie glanced over at Brody, who had shifted back into his human form, shaking his head. She knew not to move while Judd watched her every action. “Judd, are you okay?”

“Maggie, maybe you should—” Judd growled when Ryder said her name.

“Just back out of the room, Ryder. He’s a bit territorial right now,” Maggie muttered softly.

“And Brody?”

“Judd.” Maggie started to move backwards toward the bed so Brody could get out of the room. Judd watched; his eyes followed her movement as he moved closer to her. “Leave, Brody, and close the door.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t… ”

“Just leave, Brody.” She watched as Brody slowly got up from the ground and moved to the door. Judd’s head was tilted sideways as he watched Brody walk to the door. Once the door was closed, Judd’s attention was back on her. She could feel her body getting sluggish. She had given Judd a lot of her blood in her efforts to heal him, and now she was paying for it. Her hand felt for the mattress as her legs gave out, slipping down the side of the bed. She needed more blood.

Judd rushed to her side and picked her up off the ground, gently laying her down. “I’m sorry,” Maggie whispered.

“For what?” Judd’s voice was raspy as he sat down beside her.

“For not doing it sooner. I never wanted you to hurt your friend. I thought you were dead and I had killed you.” Tears fell from her eyes as she reached up and touched his face.

“What’s wrong?” Judd leaned over and wiped the tears off her face.

“I need blood.”

“Bite me.” Judd turned his neck sideways.

“No, I can’t. Your body needs to heal, and you need more blood.” Maggie put her hands on his face. “Are you really okay with this?” Tears continued to fall. “I didn’t want to do it, but I thought you were going to die if I didn’t.”

“Bite me. This is my choice, Maggie. My choice,” Judd demanded.

Turning her head to the side, he scraped his teeth against her neck. Damn that felt good. She could hardly breath she wanted him so bad. Her body pushed against his. She could feel his desperation and did what he asked, biting into his neck.

The first taste of his blood was magical as it flowed down her throat. She wanted more, but she didn’t want to take too much. He needed to refuel. She pulled away, turning her head so she couldn’t see his neck. Everything about him drew her closer. She wanted him to touch her and never stop. They had waited long enough. It was there time now. There magical time together.

He pulled away and started taking her clothes off. Kissing her as he uncovered each part of her.

“You are beautiful Maggie. I can’t believe this is real. I’ve dreamed about this.” She couldn’t take it. After he uncovered her, he kissed then licked each part of her body. His long fingers were gentle as he caressed her skin. Her body responded in goose bumps as he blew across her nipple.

His body had changed dramatically as he laid down on top of her. She rubbed her hands up and down his forearms. She could feel his muscles moving as they continued to grow. His body was still changing. “Look at me, Maggie.”

She opened her eyes and looked into the brightest green eyes she had ever seen.

“Are you ready, baby?” Judd asked.

She smiled. “Yes.”

Maggie would have given him up if she truly believed he didn’t want this, but she could actually feel it inside of him. He wanted her, wanted this. She opened her legs as his lips touched hers. His tongue darted out and licked until she smiled and opened for him. She couldn’t get enough of his taste. Pulling away, he grabbed her by the hair as his fingers massaged her scalp. Turning her neck, licking along the side for when she became his. She writhed underneath him as he continued to nibble and suck that little spot, driving her crazy.

“
J
udd
, I need you.” That was all he wanted to hear as he eased inside of her. Her gasps and moans urged him to continue. He never wanted a woman as bad as Maggie. He pushed inside of her again and again, thrusting harder as she pushed back against him. He watched as her fangs peeked down over her bottom lip, and for the first time, he thought how sexy she was. It didn’t bother him one little bit. In fact, all he wanted her to do was bite him again and again.

“You like to play, my little vampire?”

The only sound he got back was her moaning. Her eyes were closed as she raised her hips, pushing into him. “Open your eyes.”

As soon as her eyes opened, Judd flipped her onto her stomach, pulling her back against him, slamming into her again. Her grabbed ahold of her hair and pulled her body flush against his as he thrust inside her again. Licking the side of her neck where it met her shoulder, Judd could feel her getting closer and closer. “Now you’re mine.” His fangs dropped down, latching onto her, he could feel her soft skin as his fangs cut through. Blood flooded his mouth and he had never tasted anything sweeter than her. He kept driving into her until finally she screamed out. “Judd!”

He was hardly done with her; in fact, he was just getting started. Once her body calmed down, he pulled out then thrust back inside again. This time he wanted to see her come. He wanted to see her beautiful face as he slammed into her, making her his again and again.

Judd flipped her over onto her back, and then drove back inside of her again. “We are going to do this all night, my little vampire. We’ve waited too long, and now you belong to me. Tell me you’re mine. I want to hear you as I fuck you.”

Judd leaned over and sucked her breast inside of his mouth. “Yes.” Maggie arched off the bed, pushing more of her into his mouth. The greatest thing about being a shifter was how they could get more in their mouths than a normal human. Judd being a jaguar, he could crush a man’s head with his massive jaws. He planned to eat her up today and every day for the rest of their lives. They had wasted too much time already.

Her fingers dug into his arms as he moved again inside of her, pushing until he knew he couldn’t go any further. As if it couldn’t get any more intense, his little vampire started making these noises that tore him out of frame. “Right there. Right there!”

Now she had him about to blow, but that wasn’t going to happen, not until she came first. Using his hand, Judd reached down and swiped his thumb over her clit. Her body started shaking, and that was it. Her fingernails dug into his arms as her back bowed off the bed. He was already about to come, but the little minx reached up and bit into his neck, making him shoot off like a bullet out of a gun. Holding her head to him, he allowed her to have her fill until they both collapsed onto the bed. Pulling her over to him, Judd wrapped his arms around her as they drifted off.